2008 HOUSTON PRESS NEW YEAR'S EVE GUIDE

Ready to say goodbye to 2008 with its Hurricane Ike and economic tailspin? Not sure about how the next year will go? Don't sit at home brooding — get your party best on and hit the town. Houston's bars, clubs and restaurants are setting up for a mind-blowing New Year's Eve. With music and champagne at the ready, most are offering special deals that should fit your budget. So stare 2009 in the face and get out there.

The Alden Hotel will be hosting a New Year's Eve Party out on the veranda, complete with an open bar, party favors, a DJ and dance floor, and a champagne toast at midnight. After midnight, the resident restaurant, *17, will be serving breakfast bites. RSVP by December 19 to courtney.briggs@aldenhotels.com, and if you're interested in special treatment, check out the Overnight Rockin' Eve package at $368 a couple. Visit the Web site for more details.

This year, experience New Year's Eve at Alexander the Great Fine Greek Cuisine. The first seating will be from 5 to 7:30 p.m., with the regular menu, at $50 per person. The second seating is from 7:30 p.m. to 2 a.m.; $75 per person will get you a four-course meal, a complimentary champagne toast at midnight, party favors and entertainment throughout the night with live music and belly dancers.

Fantasia and Rickey Smiley will be performing at the Arena, the historic in-the-round theater, on New Year's Eve. The show is called "Jokes and Gams" and should be a great showcase for the American Idol star.

Bar Rio is presenting the New Year's Eve Ball 2009 with Armand Van Helden as its musical guest for the largest musical NYE event Houston has ever seen. There'll be a free champagne toast at midnight and the largest balloon drop in Houston. A world-famous DJ will be performing a live broadcast of Ball Drop in Times Square. There will also be a mind-blowing light and visual show. Also attending will be Houston's finest DJs and sexiest go-go dancers, and there will be an amazing magic show.

Start the New Year out in Latin style with DJ Nelson from Miami spinning all night. The $25 cover will get you in the door and includes lavish hors d'oeuvres and complimentary champagne. Call for table ­reservations.

The Big Easy

5731 Kirby, 713-523-9999

The focus here is on local blues and zydeco artists — the living legends from Houston's heyday as one of the country's top blues towns, and the club's high volume level and physical intimacy offer patrons the chance to put these titans under a visual and aural microscope. This New Year's Eve brings a live show by Guitar Shorty.

Aaron Watson will be performing at Big Texas to celebrate the New Year's approach. The Abilene-based artist will probably be doing some tunes from his Angels & Outlaws CD. There'll be a midnight countdown, party favors and a balloon drop. Doors open at 7 p.m.

Bistro Don Camillo

6510 Del Monte Dr., 713-782-3011

Head over to Bistro Don Camillo, where, for $68 per person (tax and service not included), you can enjoy the food and atmosphere this holiday season with seatings at 6, 6:30, 7, 7:30 and 8 p.m. For $78 per person, you receive unlimited seating time with live music featuring Vlad and Kelly at 9 p.m., 9:30 p.m. or 10 p.m.

Bistro Lancaster is offering a NYE Dinner Package, which includes deluxe accommodations, sparkling wine and party favors, valet parking, a breakfast buffet for two served with Bloody Marys or mimosas, and dinner for two at the Bistro.

Blanco's is offering old friends The Mitch Jacobs Band. As Blanco's puts it: "This isn't going to be any kind of fancy-schmancy New Year's Eve party — just a good old night at the honky tonk with cold beer and good friends and great music."

There will be no cover for the New Year's Eve party at Byzantio, which comes with a champagne toast at midnight and drink specials all night long.

The Cellar Bar

3140 Richmond, 713-528-6435

All-inclusive packages are available. Call for details.

Citizen Lounge

4606 Washington, 713-862-4448

Citizen Lounge will be hosting a benefit for Dr. Sean Boutrous's Houston Foundation for Facial Reconstruction, a nonprofit organization funding child surgery in developing countries, this New Year's Eve. Benjy's Modern American Cuisine will provide catering, and a DJ will mix eclectic beats into the night.

This fun-filled night will feature live music by DJ Eljay, Erikah and Nocturnal. In order to have dinner, champagne and a table, you must RSVP ahead of time. The ticket cost for a couple is $50, covering dinner, champagne and party favors. For those who don't RSVP, the ticket cost is $20 at the door starting at 7 p.m., and dinner and champagne must be purchased separately.

Club 26Ten

2610 Sage Rd., 713-974-4000

Experience New Year's Eve at 26Ten's VIP Lounge and Dance Club. Entry is free for those with table reservations. Dinner seating is at 7 p.m., with an open menu until 2 a.m. There'll be a complimentary champagne toast at midnight. Call for ­reservations.

Coaches Pub

2204 Louisiana, 713-751-1970

Party with the folks over at Coaches Pub New Year's Eve or wake up New Year's Day and join them for the Rose Bowl. They'll have $2.50 Bloody Marys to help get you moving again and a full menu to cure your hangover shakes.

Head over to Cullen's by 9 p.m. to see Luther and the Healers' live performance. Reservations are recommended for those who wish to attend; these will be $25 per person through December 30, so there's still time. If you want to make a night of it, feel free to ask about reservations next door at Cullen's Upscale American Grille.

The Cullen's chef, Paul Lewis, has created a special five-course dinner menu for New Year's Eve. Reservations are recommended at $85 per person plus tax, gratuity and alcohol. If you get there before 6 p.m., Cullen's offers early-bird seating at $44 per person (plus tax, gratuity and alcohol). Afterwards, head over to Cullen's Live for some late-night fun.

Guy Forsyth, at 9 p.m., and the Sideshow Tramps, at 11:30 p.m., are playing this New Year's Eve bash. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the cost is $20 with the champagne toast at midnight and the party favors. These two bands are ones you won't want to miss.

Dave & Buster's celebrates New Year's Eve with an interactive, hilarious murder mystery show, and you'll enjoy a chef-crafted buffet, complimentary power card, champagne toast and live DJ. The package price is $64.99 per person. The party starts at 8 p.m. Call for reservations.

To celebrate New Year's Eve, Dharma Cafe will be hosting a party featuring Allison Fischer as entertainment. Feel free to join them for a great dinner and some awesome music, complemented by free champagne and party favors. The party starts at 6 p.m. and goes to closing time.

Guabaya celebrates the New Year with a four-course dinner and live music from 7 to 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. The first seating will be at 6 p.m. at $55 per person, with a second seating at 9 p.m. at $65 per person. These prices include party favors and the champagne toast at midnight.

This New Year's Eve, you can spend the night at the Hard Rock Cafe dancing to the live music of Nothing More, Innerstate, Dmitri's Rail and, at about 1 a.m., Dremnt the End. For the ticket price of $50, enjoy the VIP lounge for the Champagne Toast at midnight, the WHY bracelet and a dinner buffet as well as party favors. Otherwise, tickets are $25 ahead of time and $50 at the door. The Cafe will also be holding a silent auction and raffle. Doors open at 9 p.m.

There are two packages available here for New Year's. With "The Countdown," you can dance off an indulgent tasting menu prepared by award-winning chef Michael Kramer and come back again the next day for more. Your package will include champagne delivered to your room upon arrival, a five-course dinner for two in VOICE, DJ and video entertainment, party favors, a midnight champagne toast, valet parking and brunch in VOICE on New Year's Day. Prices start at $545, excluding tax and gratuities. Subject to availability. The other package, "Don't Drop the Ball," includes complimentary valet parking, champagne delivery upon check-in, the five-course dinner for two, dancing and a midnight champagne toast in VOICE restaurant and lounge. Prices start at $495, excluding tax and gratuities. Subject to availability.

Celebrate the New Year with Hotel ZaZa's Winter Wonderland New Year's Eve Soirée from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. There'll be entertainment by DJ Guillaume, dancing and a champagne toast. Cascading "snow," a ten-foot-tall birch tree, "snow drifts" of rock salt, ZaZa ice princesses and specialty winter-blue martinis complete the winter transformation. As midnight approaches, party revelers will receive party favors and noisemakers. Two overnight packages are available, the "NYE" and the "Wonderland." The "NYE" package includes accommodations for two, champagne upon arrival, entry into the New Year's Eve party with a midnight champagne toast, breakfast buffet for two in Monarch on New Year's Day and overnight valet parking. Prices start at $395 plus tax. The Wonderland package also includes accommodations for two, champagne upon arrival, entry into the New Year's Eve party, breakfast buffet for two and a four-course dinner for two. Admission to the Winter Wonderland Soiree New Year's Eve Party is $50 per person. Reservations are recommended for New Year's Eve packages and bottle service; Wonderland dinner available only to Wonderland package guests.

At the House of Blues there'll be two parties in one house. The downstairs party will be holding the Totally '80s Ball featuring Thunderpants, who rock the House until 2 a.m. The $30 admission includes hors d'oeuvres and a champagne toast at midnight. Call 1-888-40-BLUES for tickets. The upstairs party will feature the Eli Young Band. Dinner and hotel packages range from $75 to $150 and include a gourmet dinner in the House of Blues Restaurant or Foundation Room. Call 832-667-7732 to make reservations.

Celebrate at Hugo's with their special four-course menu, live music by Viento and a complimentary champagne toast at midnight. Prices are $69 for adults and $12 for children.

IBAR

506 Main, 713-223-4227

Everyone's invited to the New Year's Eve party at IBAR, starting at 9 p.m. DJ Remarkable is up first, followed by DJ Hi-C. Call for advance tickets, table and bottle service. Be aware that the dress code is strictly enforced.

If you need all the luck you can get this year, then head over for free toshikoshi-soba (buckwheat noodles) at Kubo's; this dish is served in homes and restaurants across Japan on December 31. It is thought that if you eat these noodles, you'll have a long and prosperous life.

Starting at 7 p.m., La Torretta's evening will include wine and hors d'oeuvres to start things off, then dinner, dancing and the ceremonial toast with ice-cold bubbly at midnight. Prices are $125 per person, though a special New Year's Eve Tower Suite rate of $199 per night is available. There are also children's events at $50 per child. Limited availability.

Brought to you by Sports Monkey, The Rod Ryan Show and 94.5 The Buzz, the BLTV (Black Tie+Lingerie+Toga) New Year's Eve Party runs from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., with drinks included in the ticket price and live music from Adrenaline and the Slags Multiple DJs. The midnight toast will happen over 40,000 square feet of party space, and there will be party favors all around. Also joining the guests will be Rockstar Photographer Tre. Early Bird tickets start at $69. Table reservations start at $50. Hotel room packages start at $129 plus tax and include shuttle service from the party. Please e-mail info@sportsmonkey.com for special group pricing of ten-plus tickets. Valet parking will be available.

There will be a Mediterranean Paella Lobster Bar and live Latin music to celebrate the New Year, as well as tapas and canapés all night. There'll be bottles of champagne on service, and the gold and glitter private rooms will be available for reservation only. A free raffle giveaway tops off the night, which starts at 10 p.m. and ends at 2 a.m.

Monkey Bar

605 6th St., Kemah, 281-334-7800

There will be a masquerade party with catering by Mediterraneo, drink specials and midnight party favors.

Celebrate New Year's Eve at Numbers with a $2,009 Cash Balloon Drop, free lifetime passes and other prizes, free party favors and a champagne toast at midnight. There'll be a cheap cover price for those who come early. The party starts at 9 p.m., is open to all ages and will feature DJ Wes Wallace.

Houston's newest South African restaurant wants you to "Experience the Wild Life this NYE," starting at 7:30 p.m. Enjoy an all-you-can-eat buffet for dinner and a 12:30 a.m. breakfast. There will be an open bar, a live musical performance by the Ed Maly Band and dancing. The cost is $130 per person in advance and $140 at the door. There'll be plenty of parking, so head on over.

Keith & Margo's Murder Mystery Midnight Madness, the 18th annual Houston New Year's Eve celebration, will be held at the Renaissance Hotel from 8:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. There will be an hors d'oeuvres reception, a gourmet dinner, one drink ticket per person and the traditional champagne toast at midnight. There'll be a cash bar, and outside alcohol is prohibited, as you try to figure out a comedic murder mystery surrounded by professional actors pretending to be suspects. A hilarious homicide detective will guide you through the process, and there'll be a DJ, team prizes, a balloon drop and party favors. Tickets are $129.50 per person. For a couple's guest room and breakfast, the price is an additional $130. Dress code goes from suit and tie and cocktail dress to tuxedo and evening gown.

The 28th annual Glitter Ball celebrates the entrance of 2009 with a $2,009 balloon drop. A $30 presale ticket covers the champagne toast at midnight and the New Year's Eve party favors. Check the availability of the New Year's Eve party packages, including the one platinum, two gold, five silver and 12 bronze packages, each of which will supply private parties with everything they need (liquor, champagne, a room); it ranges from 40 people in the platinum party to six in the bronze party. Prices are, in order, $5,000, $2,000, $1,500 and $1,000. The party will be open until noon New Year's Day.

At Rioja, the New Year's Eve meal will include bottomless wine, champagne and sangria and a variety of tapas, a choice between sirloin steak and paella mixta. The dessert is three cheesecakes. The cost is $125 per person. A full cash bar will be available.

Ristorante Cavour

1080 Uptown Park Blvd., 713-418-1012

Ristorante Cavour features two special menus for New Year's Eve. There'll be a five-course meal featuring bigeye tuna, Maine lobster ravioli, black Sichuan pepper crusted buffalo tenderloin, dessert and more. The cost is $90 per person.

Ritz Cabaret

10520 Gulf Fwy., 713-944-6445

Join Desirous Party for the fifth annual F.L.F. (formal, lingerie, fetish) Ball running from 8 p.m. to midnight. Enjoy two dance floors, three raised dance stages, dance poles and cages, and DJ Red on the main stage. There will be discounted drink prices at five bar stations, a huge balloon drop from the second-level atrium at midnight, party favors and a complimentary champagne toast at midnight. There'll also be a midnight breakfast buffet for two.

Celebrate New Year's Eve carnival-style at the San Luis Hotel Galveston, 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., at a New Year's extravaganza complete with a four-course culinary feast in the elaborately decorated ballroom. Following dinner, guests will continue the celebration among the towering columns of feathers, orchids, hanging candles and generous libations. There will be dancing to the melodies of The Billie Ledbetter 22-Piece Orchestra, with favors, a champagne toast and a balloon drop at the stroke of midnight. Cost for the event is $170 per person. Enjoy the event plus overnight accommodations at the San Luis Hotel starting at only $469 per couple.

Shakespeare Pub

14129 Memorial Dr., 281-497-4625

Spend New Year's Eve at Houston's Home of the Blues and Zydeco for a performance by John McVey and The Stumble at 10 p.m. There will be no cover. Drink specials all night.

The Shamrock Inn

9161 S. Gessner, 713-777-5700

Toast the New Year at midnight at the Shamrock Inn to the live music of Dog Party. There will be a full menu until 11 p.m. No cover.

The Sheraton will be the site of the "5 Minutes to Midnight — NYE Affair 2009" party, which features World Famous DJ "Def Jam Blaster." Starting at 8 p.m. and ending at 2 a.m., this party will have favors and noisemakers, drink specials all night, hors d'oeuvres and a buffet, and a champagne toast at midnight. Bottle service and table reservations are available for everyone 21 or older.

Sonoma will be kicking off the New Year with a "New Year's Eve Wine Dinner," complete with a delicious three-course meal with special wine selections. The cost is $34.95 without wine pairing and $69.95 with wine, plus tax and gratuity. These prices include party favors. The regular menu will also be available on New Year's Eve. Please call for reservations; seating is limited.

South Beach will be hosting the Masterbeat 2009 World Tour countdown, complete with DJ Roland Belmares of L.A. and a free CD for 100 lucky people. There'll be a complimentary champagne toast at midnight, with the doors opening at 9 p.m. and staying open until 5 a.m. For VIP admission, a $15 cover is required in advance.

The 2009 New Year's Rockin' Eve Bash with The Fab 5 will be held at the Stafford Centre. Churrascos is bringing in the dinner (there'll be plantains at every table as a warmup) with a midnight champagne toast.

Star Fleet Yachts will be holding its 2008/2009 New Year's Eve Party Cruise. Ring in the New Year with dinner and dancing, complimentary beer, wine and champagne, and a large selection of gourmet snacks as the ship navigates Clear Lake and Galveston Bay. The cost is $99 per person ($126.46 with service charge and sales tax) for a three-hour cruise on Clear Lake and Galveston Bay. There will be a cash bar for cocktails and a DJ.

This New Year's Eve will be ushered in with half-price champagne by the glass, retail pricing on all bottles of bubbly and the sounds of DJ Flash Gordon Parks as he gets you in the mood for 2009. The party starts at 9 p.m.

Vargo's has a special menu for New Year's Eve consisting of a variety of appetizers, three salad choices, five entrées — including rack of lamb and snapper — and dessert. The full meal goes for $69.95. There will also be dancing, a live band, a champagne toast and party favors.

Warren's Inn

307 Travis, 713-247-9207

Warren's Inn is offering a cover-free night with a menu of black-eyed peas and jalapeño cornbread in honor of the occasion.

Ars Lyrica's "Bachanalia 08-09" features Houston favorites Melissa Givens and Timothy Jones performing two Bach wedding cantatas and Baroque oboe virtuoso Kathryn Montoya performing a Bach concerto. Then ring in the New Year the old-fashioned way with champagne and delectable hors d'oeuvres at the gala reception and silent auction in the Hobby Center Founders Club. The show tickets are $45, $30 and $25; gala tickets are $45. The show starts at 9 p.m.

Zimms Wine Bar

4321 Montrose, 713-521-2002

DJ LBO will be spinning on New Year's Eve. There'll be many surprises and gift giveaways on this special night, and Zimms will have complimentary champagne flowing throughout the evening.